When the SCB Head Office announced that employees could work from home we saw different reactions from our coworkers. Most of them preferred it because they didn’t want to get too close to their co-workers for fear of coming down with COVID-19. Some people liked it because it allowed them to change their everyday environment and routine.  Those with families were relieved to be able to look after their children during the school holidays. Singles complained of being bored because they were unable to leave their homes and were faced with paying higher electricity bills because of all the electrical utilities they were using during their workday.  Whatever their reaction, the majority liked it at first because they didn’t have to get up early. However, they soon found that working at the office is sometimes more convenient because of all the office equipment available, and you can easily communicate, discuss, or schedule meetings with people face-to-face. You also have a social life, where you can catch up with friends and interact with them. But despite those advantages, working from home is the safe option for preventing the spread of the pandemic and has certain benefits.

1. Develop the quality of your work and bring new value to it

Have you ever found that when you're at work you spend the majority of your time answering text messages from your bosses, responding to e-mails from coworkers, attending a few meetings, and answering phone calls? You only have a few hours to finish your assignments.  These hassles make it difficult for you to concentrate on your job. There isn't a lot of time to think about how to increase the quality of your everyday work or be creative. On the other hand, working from home helps you better focus on your job and generate new ideas in a new environment.  It offers a good opportunity for former office workers to improve their work and have more time for creativity.  

2. Experiment with new technologies for both work and personal matters

There are now applications that allow you to work from anywhere in the world in a quick and efficient manner, such as those dealing with online meetings, event planning, collecting information, exchanging ideas, submitting documents or work, and even screen sharing.  When you're at work you may not get a chance to use these applications very much. Your new home setting helps you to stay up-to-date with current events and learn from new experiences. If they work out well, you can use them again when you get back to the workplace.  

Once you've settled in, you may become too lazy or even too busy to leave the house. That’s where mobile apps can help you. These applications now have a wide range of capabilities. For example, the SCB Easy app allows you to purchase insurance, apply for loans, purchase funds, make donations, make deposits and withdrawals, and get your paycheck. If you're hungry, you can use food delivery apps to place orders. There are many ways for you to use these apps to develop your professional and personal skills.

3. Extra time to enrich your life

You don't have to think about waking up early when you work from home. This gives you or your family more time before or after work, at least 1-2 hours extra hours a day. You may use these spare moments to exercise, read, meditate, or clean.  Families will have more time to prepare healthier food for their children, assist them with homework, or care for their parents. Some people are able to grow organic vegetables that are both nutritious and cost-effective. You can do a lot more with your life than you could before with only a few extra hours per day. 

4. De-stress with a slow life 

Aside from working hard, office employees in the city are constantly in a rush, waking up and leaving home early to avoid traffic congestion and coming home late at night.  Most of them don't even have time to eat breakfast at home because they don't have time to prepare it.  Instead, they have to rely on convenience stores or street food.  Arriving home in the evening can be just as exhausting, and it could be late at night before you finish your nightly routine and go to bed. These challenges can lead to physical and mental fatigue, as well as stress, chronic illness, and conditions like heartburn or insomnia. Working from home helps office staff reset their life cycles. You don't have to be in a rush all the time. This slower way of life allows you to unwind and regain your health.

5. More time with loved ones 

When people live as a family they typically have obligations, such as caring for their children, spouse, and parents.  Since they leave early in the morning and return late at night, they usually only see family members briefly in the morning and evening, or not at all.  Working at home allows them to improve their relationships with family members by giving them more opportunities to care about each other, participate in sports, and chat because they have more flexible schedules. Now is the time to strengthen family bonds.

6. Safety from COVID-19 and PM 2.5

You should wear a mask and bring hand gel with you before leaving your house during this pandemic period. Working from home eliminates the dangers of being trapped in stuffy public transportation with other people breathing down your neck, and thus helps you avoid the risks of COVID-19 and PM2.5.  It can also help minimize PM 2.5 levels due to reduced exposure to pollution when sitting in traffic.

7.  Save money

You’ll incur costs such as paying for travel, food, beverages, snacks, and even shopping when you leave home. On average, you'll need to budget between 300 and 1000 baht per day. Working from home lowers these costs and provides an opportunity to save money for savings or investment.

It's obvious that working from home has a lot of benefits during a crisis. However, when operating from home you must be disciplined and maintain your sense of duty. You must also keep track of your productivity and report your progress and accomplishments to superiors on a regular basis to update your performance. This is a habit that will help us happily survive the COVID-19 crisis.